Velocity switch for inflow control devices and methods for using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369571-A1
Application number	US-201514740481-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a flow bore of a wellbore tubular and a wellbore annulus may include an inflow control device having at least one pressure reducing stage. The stage may include a flow passage along which the fluid flows and a throttle receiving the fluid from the flow passage. The throttle may include a first flow area that is cross-sectionally larger than a second flow area and an outlet in direct fluid communication with the second flow area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a flow bore of a wellbore tubular and a wellbore annulus, the apparatus comprising:
an inflow control device having at least one pressure reducing stage, the stage including:
a flow passage along which the fluid flows;
a throttle receiving the fluid from the flow passage, the throttle including:
a first flow area;
a second flow area at least partially separated from and parallel to the first flow area, wherein the first flow area is cross-sectionally larger than the second flow area; and
an outlet in direct fluid communication with the second flow area.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the throttle includes:
an enclosure having a bore; a flow dividing member positioned in the bore to form the first flow area and the second flow area; and a wall at least partially defining the second flow area, wherein the outlet is formed in the wall.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the enclosure is a tubular member and the flow dividing member is a cylindrical body eccentrically disposed in the bore.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a multi-phase fluid having a gas phase and a liquid phase, wherein a difference in a cross-sectional area of the first and the second flow area is selected to cause a majority of the gas phase to flow through the first flow area.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an ejector in fluid communication with the throttle, the ejector including:
an inlet having a unidirectional valve, the valve being configured to admit a produced fluid from the bore of the wellbore tubular into the ejector when subjected to a predetermined pressure differential across the valve; and a nozzle receiving the fluid from the flow passage, the nozzle being configured to generate a vacuum pressure at the inlet.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the fluid is a multi-phase fluid having a gas phase and a liquid phase, and wherein the predetermined pressure differential is based on a velocity of the gas phase through the nozzle.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure reducing stage includes a plurality of pressure reducing stages that are hydraulically isolated from one another, and wherein an outlet associated with at least one of the throttles provides fluid communication between at least two of the pressure reducing stages.

8 . A method for controlling a flow of a fluid between a flow bore of a wellbore tubular and a wellbore annulus, comprising:
positioning an inflow control device having at least one pressure reducing stage in a wellbore; receiving a multi-phase fluid from the wellbore annulus in the inflow control device, the multi-phase fluid having a gas phase and a liquid phase; and recirculating at least a portion of the gas phase in the at least one pressure reducing stage.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least a portion of the gas phase is recirculated along a circular flow path formed in the inflow control device.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising flowing a majority of the gas phase across a first flow area and a majority of the liquid phase across a second flow area, the first and the second flow areas being parallel with one another.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the liquid phase in the second flow area out of the inflow control device.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising mixing the gas phase with a produced fluid from the flow bore of the wellbore tubular, the mixing occurring inside the at least one pressure reducing stage.

13 . An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a flow bore of a wellbore tubular and a wellbore annulus, wherein the fluid is a multi-phase fluid having a gas phase and a liquid phase, the apparatus comprising:
an inflow control device having a plurality of pressure reducing stages, wherein at least one of the plurality of pressure reducing stages includes a velocity switch configured to recirculate a majority of the gas phase in the associated pressure reducing stage.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the velocity switch includes at least two differently sized and parallel flow areas.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the velocity switch further comprising an ejector, the ejector including:
an inlet having a unidirectional valve, the valve being configured to admit a produced fluid from the bore of the wellbore tubular into the ejector when subjected to a predetermined pressure differential across the valve; and a nozzle receiving the fluid from the flow passage, the nozzle being configured to generate a vacuum pressure at the inlet.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Banerjee Sudiptya

Classifications

• E21B43/2406

  Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD] · CPC title

• E21B34/08 Primary

  responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/00 Primary

  Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; {Cables;} Casings; Tubings · CPC title